5 Netflix Originals That Addressed Real Issues

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Queer Eye is a television series that takes the powerful, well-groomed “Fab 5” and pairs them with a (usually) slobbering mess that requires a little knowledge and inspiration to find themselves a new look and some new confidence to match. Thanks to a new Fab Five composed of Tan, Jonathan, Antoni, Karamo, and Bobby, Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot is forging a new path towards togetherness with unapologetic empathy inside its confidence-building makeovers. Each episode tackles a new social issue present in the world today – whether it’s a Trump-voting cop or a gay man struggling to come out of the closet—with open arms and willing ears, the Fab 5 give their new friends a little push in the right direction.

2. Glow

The first season of GLOW, also known as Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is entirely prologue, and has a unique and compelling ambience to the series. The Reagan-era narrative follows aspiring actress Ruth Wilder, played by Alison Brie, her former friend, Debbie Eagan, who’s played by Betty Gilpin, and journeyman director Sam Sylvia, who’s played by Marc Maron as they prepare to film the pilot for a local cable station’s wrestling series. Season Two of Netflix’s GLOW opens as Season One of the characters’ GLOW is getting underway and from set construction and producing credits to the medium’s disappointing lack of opportunities for women and people of colour, GLOW comments constantly on the nature of television and the rights of women in general, and in the process becomes one of Netflix’s most brilliant backstage comedies.

3. Alex Strangelove

Directed by Craig Johnson, Alex Strangelove, one of Netflix most critically acclaimed original films released in 2018 features a brand new cast of brilliant actors and a beautiful story of self-discovery. Alex Strangelove follows the story of Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), a popular high schooler who is banking on losing his virginity to his girlfriend Claire (Madeline Weinstein). But in typical high school fashion, nothing goes as planned and Alex finds himself facing something that many teens his age would – his sexuality.

Things naturally get a little more complicated when Alex realises he has a crush on another male from another school, and Alex Truelove takes viewers along with him along his journey of self-discovery.

4. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser

The film follows Sierra Burgess (Shannon Purser), a smart yet reasonably uncool high schooler who is constantly harassed by the films stereotypically mean (and popular) cheerleader, Veronica (Kristine Froseth). However, when Burgess receives a text from the most popular boy in her school, who unknowingly mistakes her number for Veronica’s, Sierra does not fess up, rather begins messaging him which in turn eventually leads to her cat-fishing him due to issues with her own self-image.

While thousands of fans have admitted to not only loving the film but also relating to it on a deeper and more personal level, many online publications and have set up an online petition to have the movie pulled from the popular streaming site due to “transphobic jokes, mockery of deaf people, nonconsensual kissing and an ending that makes it seem like the whole charade was totally fine.”

5. 6 Balloons

6 Balloons tells the story of Katie (Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson) a woman who’s trying to plan a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend. However, as the day goes on, she soon collides with her brother Seth (Dave Franco), a heroin addict who’s using substance again.

The story follows the loneliness inside dark moments of addiction and has been praised for shining light onto the controversial subject, encouraging others to research substance abuse and how to help those in need.